Abstract

Background

Guided by decades-old reports of hantaviral antigens in the Eurasian common shrew
(Sorex araneus) and the Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens) in European Russia, we employed RT-PCR to analyze lung tissues of soricine shrews,
captured in Boginia, Huta Dłutowska and Kurowice in central Poland during September
2010, 2011 and 2012.

Findings

In addition to Seewis virus (SWSV), which had been previously found in Eurasian common
shrews elsewhere in Europe, a genetically distinct hantavirus, designated Boginia
virus (BOGV), was detected in Eurasian water shrews captured in each of the three
villages. Phylogenetic analysis, using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods, showed
that BOGV formed a separate lineage distantly related to SWSV.

Conclusions

Although the pathogenic potential of BOGV and other recently identified shrew-borne
hantaviruses is still unknown, clinicians should be vigilant for unusual febrile diseases
and clinical syndromes occurring among individuals reporting exposures to shrews.